HAMEL DOWN CROSS

Cross later used as boundary stone. A much mutilated Latin cross of rough rectangular section set up amongst some stones. The top of the head and one area are broken off. It is inscribed "HC DS 1854" (Hamildon Cross, Duke of Somerset) and marks the boundary of Natsworthy Manor. The cross is almost certainly not in its original position and presumably was moved in the mid C19th to act as a boundary stone. It stands in a dip in the ridge, barely visible from any distance to travellers along the ridge, perhaps at an intersection of tracks or crossroads.

A much mutilated Latin cross of rough rectangular section set up amongst some stones. The top of the head and one area are broken off. It is inscribed "HC DS 1854" (Hamildon Cross, Duke of Somerset) and marks the boundary of Natsworthy Manor. (2)

SX 7042 8009 Hamel Down Cross.A cross of coarse-grained granite, rectangular in section and parallel-sided up to the one remaining arm. The E face is smoothed to take the inscription, the W face rough. It stands 1.4m high, leaning slightly to the NW, and is 0.55m wide except across the arm where it is 0.65m. On average it is 0.17m thick. The tip and southern arm are missing and the whole S and N edges neatly trimmed. The one remaining arm is rounded, almost semi-circular. A scatter of loose stones lie around the base.The inscription in three tiers reads " HC DS 1854" (Hamel Down Cross, Duke of Somerset 1854) and is in capital letters 9 to 12 cms high. It relates to re-use as a boundary stone to Natsworthy manor in the mid C19th: other purpose made boundary stones of the same date can be seen in the barrows along the ridge: Broad Barrow (SX 77 NW 1),Single Barrow (SX 77 NW 22) and Two Barrows (SX 77 NW 23).

The cross is almost certainly not in its original position and presumably was moved in the mid C19th to act as a boundary stone. It stands in a dip in the ridge, barely visible from any distance to travellers along the ridge, perhaps at an intersection of tracks or crossroads. (3)